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New Year’s Day 2011 At Tergar Monastery

January 5, 2011 – Bodhgaya

Special Morning Prayers

For all those who had remained in Bodhgaya following the successful conclusion of the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo on December 22nd, Gyalwang Karmapa turned New Year’s Day 2011 into one to be remembered.

On December 31st His Holiness announced that the following morning there would be a special puja to celebrate the official Indian and Western New Year.

At 8:30am on January 1st 2011 more than a thousand people crowded in to the main shrine room at Tergar Monastery to join His Holiness in morning prayers, including prayers for auspiciousness, Refuge Prayers, The auspiciousness of the twelve deeds, King of aspirations and Milarepa’s aspiration, in the coming year. The congregation included Mingyur Rinpoche and his brother, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, 250 junior monks from Mingyur Rinpoche’s monastery, Kagyu monks and nuns, and others from diverse Buddhist traditions, lay devotees of the Gyalwang Karmapa, Kagyu Monlam staff who had stayed on in Bodh Gaya, and, in addition, several hudred of Mingyur Rinpoche’s students who had arrived for his annual teachings on the “Joy of Living” and the “Path of Liberation” at Tergar Monastery.

As is traditional in a celebration, Tibetan tea and special sweet rice were served as part of the ceremony.

After the prayers concluded, His Holiness wished everybody “Happy New Year” and invited them to a special Mahakala Puja in the late afternoon, followed by a New Year’s Dinner for everyone.

Mahakala Puja

The congregation gathered again at 5.30pm, as His Holiness personally led the Mahakala Puja as Umze. Although Mahakala is the Dharma protector most closely associated with the Kagyu lineage, His Holiness recited a practice for the two-armed Bernakchen, an emanation of Samantabhadra.

New Year Dinner

While the majority of people were in the shrine room listening to His Holiness, many others were busily preparing the dining area for more then 1000 guests, under the supervision of a small group of Taiwanese nuns from the Kagyu Monlam team. The drab dining hall upstairs was transformed by yellow, white and blue cloth into a huge tent-like space, decorated by the Karmapa dream flag and its associated colours. Tables were laid with tablecloths, cutlery and carefully arranged fresh flower decorations.

More than a thousand people were served within the space of ninety minutes. Gyalwang Karmapa, Mingyur Rinpoche and Tsoknyi Rinpoche sat at the head table. However, during the meal His Holiness took time to circulate and talk with the guests and did three circumambulations of the Tergar Monastery with Mingyur Rinpoche and Tsoknyi Rinpoche.

January 3rd, 2011: Gyalwang Karmapa Leaves Bodhgaya

Although the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo concluded on 22nd December, the Gyalwang Karmapa and his entourage remained at Tergar Monastery, Bodhgaya until the beginning of January 2011.

On the morning of 3rd January, His Holiness left Tergar Monastery at 7.30am for a final visit to the Mahabodhi Stupa, where he paid homage to the Buddha in the main shrine room, before proceeding to Patna Airport for his flight to New Delhi.

Quotes from the 17th Karmapa

Each person must find his or her own path. Nonetheless, seek guidance from wise and compassionate people and listen to them earnestly. This will help you find the best way to proceed – now and in the future.- Karmapa on Guidance

All traditions, whether religious or secular, have developed to benefit human society. In the event that a tradition or system becomes harmful, there’s no need to insist on following it.- Karmapa on Tradition

Human beings are the most intelligent and resourceful species on earth. If we use our intelligence to cause more suffering, rather than to bring some real benefit to others and ourselves, we are no better than beasts.- Karmapa on Intelligence

Just to simply relax and rest in your own natural state is all that you need to do. When you give yourself that opportunity, you’ll find that presence extends to the other parts of your life.- Karmapa on Meditation

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